Evening Star Newspaper, February 12, 1928, Page 68

8 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. . FEBRUARY 12 1928—PART 4. mARNE l REDUCE ACCIDENTS BY SOLVING 110 CLEARHEHW Motorists Told Not to Block; Traffic When Stopping | Along Routes. BALTIMORE. February 11 (Special) =Parking or stopping to make repairs on the highways without getting the vehicle entirely off the traveled part of the road—the further off the better. ic a warning issued by Motor Vehicle Commissioner E. Austin Baughman. Commissioner Baughman points out that many of the highway accidents each vear resulting in death and in- Juries are traccable to lack of care under the circumstances indicated. “A motor vehicle stopped at night on any highway to enable work to be done upon the tirss or the enzine usually brings persons into the road and it is not uncommon for one or more of such persons to stand in such posi- tion as to hide the tail light from the view of traffic approaching from the rear Or thev mav not be scen until too late to prevent an accident.| especially if the oncommng vehicle is being operated with n lights.” warns Commissioner Baughman. who adds: “Parking or stopping on the traveled art of the highways is dangerous in he extreme. Primarily vehicles travel at faster rates of speed on State high- ways coursing through the sparsely set- tled portions of the State and a crash under these circumstances usually re- sults disastrously. “Many instances are found where such accidents occur where the parked vehicle is obscured by curves or rises in the road. or stopped with no lights, or without a tail light. In most of these cases the stopped vebicle was at least artiallv. if not wholly. on the main raveled part of the highway. “Accidents of this type can be pre- vented if operators desiring %o =iop their vehicles will at all times pul' en. tirely off the traveled part of the high- Vehicles should never be stopped. even for a moment. on the traveled part of the highway. on curves or hills. or at anv point where a clear view can- Bot be had by approaching traffic. “Necessary precautions on the part @f moving traffic are not to operate at 8 fast rate of speed when using dim lights. approach and travel all curves at a slow, cautious rate of speed. al- ways remember that any obstruction to the view may hide #n accident. and by e alert and vigilant at all times.” TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. HITT ASKS | 2ot v teasme viostions suen Judge Deplores Antiquated Are Tried. | Court Where Auto Violators | Makes Plea for New Struc-’ RBY JUDGE AC R. HITT, Of Police and Traflice Court A wonderful automebile show has recently delighted progressive Wash- mgton and resulted m the purchase of many new cars that will be seen on_our streets during this year. Many new drivers’ permits are being issued after proper examination of ap- plicants by the Traffic Bureau Washington must protect itself from increasing numbers of tragedies by giv- ing_more serious thoughts to the motor traffic problem. Traffic Branch Busy. Since Congress passed the District of Columbia traffic act in 192 thorizing the traffic regulation: Traffic Branch of the Police Court has | been busy from 9 am to 11 pm. six| days in the weck. including New Year, Washington's birthday, Decoration day, Fourth of July. Labor day. Thanksgiv. ing and Christmas, hearing traffic vio- lation cases. We have four judges who operate five courts. A great many of the adult population of this fountain head of Government have had occasion ! to visit the historic old four-story Police Court. on Sixth and D streets northwest. They have passed through its dingy halls, climbed its narrow iron stairways (for it has no elevators) and | sat in the illy ventilated and poorly lighted courtrooms. Some have seen ture to Care for Increas- | ing Cases. HARRIS & EWING of these easual visitors would be strong boosters for a new Police Court building if they expected to be frequent callers s there. In my opinion. traffic conditions in W.rhington do not differ greatly from those in other cities in the United States of lke size. Criticism of au- toist®, pedestrians, the Traffic Bureau. light sianals, police officers, prosecutors. judges and court officials and employes zenerally hes become a popular indoor sport. No doubt there is reason for ticlsm in some cases for the people invalved in traffic violations or acci- dents are human beings. There are comparatively few people who can successfully keep hands, feet. the overcrowded cells (two for men and | €¥¢s and cars co-operating in the man- one for women) which are about 15| feet square, and often from 50 to 150 | people are confined in each of the cells for men, no segregation of whites and colored prople. and no proper conven- iences or provisoin for women jurors Many of these visitors of our court have more or less cheerfully con- tributed to the considerable sum of over half a million dollars in fines collected in the Police Court, District of Colum- bia. annually. most of which is urned over to the United States Treasury. If permitted b Congress. wa eonld pay for a new Police Court building within two years out of the fines. Most | cupled with other things. agement of a motor vehicle while the conscious mind is intermittently oc- Lack of con- centration of attention on the part of the driver is undoubtedly the cause of nearly all motor accidents. Where two cars collide it may have been one or both drivers who tried to think of two or more things at the same instant. Thoughtlessness and indifference make much of the trouble in the world. but thoughtles<ness or indifference just for A moment are causing more sorrow, ~uffering and loss daily in traffic acci- dents than in any other circumstances Having driven a car myself since 1917, FRANKLIN Salesroom Ll \ -coolz’ng~ it are the advantages? R AIRMAN SERIES AVIATION — with the whole world of engineer- ing to choose from — has vir- tually standardized on the air- cooled motor. Backing this de- cision lay expert knowledge of engines and long years of ex- perience. That the air-cooled motor was adopted is of tre- mendous significance to every motorist. Air-cooling was pio- neered and perfected for the world — through the medium of the Franklin automobile. Simplicity Itself In the air-cooled motor, air is forced in by the Sirocco fan and carried in enormous vol- ume over the tops of the cylin- ders—down through the verti- al woling flanges which sur- round each cylinder, with great- er amounts allotted 1o points of greater heat. The whole mo- tor is cooled by an ever-chang ing supply of air—once the air has passed over the cylinders it is carried away and instant- FRANKLIN MOTOR CAR COMPANY ly rep.aced oy fresh air (There is no recooling and recircu- lating, as in water-cooled cars.) Water-cooled cars are forced to use radiators to bring the hot water into contact with the air so it can be cooled and used again — air-cooling means the whole motor is cooled directly byan endless supply of fresh air. Greater Efficiency The elimination of more than one hundred parts— parts that frequently go wrong and caure expensive delays — permits a saving in weight that is reflect- ed in lower gasoline, oil and tire consumption. Theair-cooled motor is independent of ex- tremes in weather conditions— you gowhereveryou will,all year round, with no thought of dan- ger of freezing or overheating. The fact that a Franklin Owner's next car is so generally another atr -cooled Franklin constitutes the most impressive endorse- ment that can be aacorded an automotive principle. Only in a Franklin do you find so complete an assembly of the factors which make mororing a genuine pleasure. We will be pleased to arrange a thorough demonstration for you. Have one this week! HARRY W, BURR / 517 Conn. Ave. N.W, Service 1999 M St N.W, How does it work? | 1 can readily see the reason for almost all so-called accidents and realize that the wilful law-breaker is the exception. as overtime, parallel of 18-hour park- ing, or auto parking without lights, faulty lights, tailure to show permit or registration card, disobeying officer's signals, stop signals, disrespect of safety zones are most numerous, for which violators, under the D. C. code, are per- mitted to put up collateral.at a precinct station or the Traffic Bureau, and often are permitted to forfeit collateral in- stead of standing trial. | In the major violations, defendants must stand trial even though they have put up collateral, and jury trials are provided by law for certain offenses, for instance, in cases where the maximum fine is over $300 and not more than, $1,000 or imprisonment over 90 days| and not more than one year, or when | offenders swear they were within the law it is time for the judge to smile in- wardly and add a little to Uncle S8am'y collection basket at the court. For, while I know. as all drivers do. that it requires a purpose to do right, and con- stant vigilance to keep a good easy- going car within 22 miles an hour, I also know. as do all other drivers, that the next step to speeding. even a little, is reckless driving, because it encour- ages indifference to law, and selfishness The moment indifference and selfish- | ness control an automobile there is apt to be trouble, and the continuance of Ifishness and indifference at the heel lead inevitably to tragedy. | None Too Protective. | The trafic laws and regulations are none too protective and the penalties | for violations provided by law are not severe when we consider the serious re- | sults of violations. 1 The pedestrian has his rights and the law provides for fine or imprison- ment or both. ‘The muost { traffic law are: ' Driving while intoxicated. i erlous cases under the | Leaving after colliding. Reckless driving, first and subsequent | roadsters are often unable to control the offenses. Fallure to give right of way. Fallure to signal before pulling out from curb or on making a turn to right |often win and when he loses something "or left. | Excessive speeding, first, second and ! third offenses. 1 Operating without a permit. Drunken Drivers Hit. It is difficult for any thoughtful, | sound-minded person to understand how any other sound-minded person | can consent to take a drink of intoxi | cating liquor and soon after place him- sclf behind the steering wheel of an | automobile and attempt to drive. A person who thinks he has a right to do that should not have a permil until he changes his mind on the subject. There s no apology for drunken driver: Hit-and-run drivers. One who will drive away after colliding with a pedestrian or with another car withou. stopping to find out the extent of the injury done and tailing to show his per- his name and address, etc.. as provided | by law, is criminally indiffe lact classifies him as a reckless driver. Fallure to give right of way indicates tendency to reckless driving. though n some cases I have been convinced thut it happened when the driver's mind and hand were not co-operating and was not due to selfish indifference to the | bearance. {alert to protect the public as well as () there Is a great tendency on the part of | drivers to ignore them. On the other hand pedestrians should watch and obey traffic signals carcfully. { Drivers have slight accidents because ! | they misjudge distances. Operators of | car because the driver's seat s erowded | The autoistis no exception when he gambles, takes a chance—he does not !sad usually happens. Our court officials are always cour- teous. Our police officers, includin, traffic officers, have no easy job: thev, like the pedestrian and the autoist, are compelled to cultivate patience and fore- They are constantly on the apprehend the violators. Our office:s | arc splendid men and fine officers Human, like the rest of us, but honest and earnest in their desire to perform | thelr duty. and deserve more respect | than they sometimes recelve. Cur pros. | ecuting attorneys. namely assistant cor- | poration counsels and United States | attorneys, are busv. helping unfortunate |alleged violators in the presentation of their cases where they do not have an attorney to defend them. “Ifs" Are Stressed. such a little word. but it could i g mit and registration card, thus giving set our beautiful city free from much of | that th~ difficulty aris the sorrow and shame we are bearing on ‘ent and his | account of auto accidents. If drivers are a little more carefully examined before permits are issued. | If no one would try to drive a car! . who is il or has taken a drink of liquor before driving If drivers would concentrate attention | on the business of driving while the car U... MOTOR TRUCK CONTROL OPPOSED Interstate Regulation of Busses Indorsed by Ten Trade Assceiations. Indorsement of interstate regulation s of busses, but opposition to Fedcral reg- ulation of motor trucks was expressed this week in briefs filed with the Inter- state Commerce Commission in Docket No. 18300 by 10 of the leading bus and | truck fations, who filed against Examiner Flynn's position to the truck reguiations which would place under Federal control com- mon carrier motor trucks in interstate business, it is pointed out by the Amer- fcan Motorists' Assoclation, is based largely on the fact that there is no de- mand for regulation of common carrier otor trucks in interstate commerce as evidenced by the fact that less than 2 r cent of the entire tonnage of motor rucks in the country is hauled in inter- state commerce.by common carrier mo- tor trucks. This figure was brought out during the hearings which have been held by the commission throughout the coun- Applied locally, the association points out, it would not affect a large number trucks engaged primarily in interstate commerce business hetween Washington and Baltimore. Annapolis and contiguous points, but would never- theless seriously hamper trucks used by local merchants in the hauling of their goods. The proposed legislation is <o designed that private truck owners and private contract carriers are not am able to it. the regulation being solely on common carrier motor vehicles The assoclation points out. however s_in_distingich- ptions Op- fellow.” whether he be pedestrian » autoists. as If he himself were “the other fellow.” Then newspapers would have more space for pleasant news: hospitals, phy sicians. surgeons and nurses would have fewer patients: undertakers would not rights of others, as sometimes happen- |is moving or while in the midst of |be so prosperous. but insurance com- when the failure to give signal before pulling out from a curb is charged. It has often interested me when I was | quent examinations would keep his car | be saved to their parents moving traffic | If every driver or car owner by fre panies would thrive. Parents would b saved to their children: children would there would driving. watching my speedometer and | in good condition as to brakes. elc.. and be_fewer crippled little ones. keeping up to the 22 miles an hour. ¢ find so many cars going in my direction pass me. When numerous alleged speed BOTH Salesrooms 1727 Connecticut Potomac 86l would have his car under control at all times, esnecially at intersections. If everv autoist would treat “the other Imn't it worth srious thought. con- clentious and persistent effort on the part of all concerned? |Ing between the privately owned trick and the private contract carri | are not affected, and the common motor truck, which is regulated. { “It would, thercfore, follow that the Interstate regulation of the motor truck must contemplate the policing of inter- state truck operations to determine whether the law is being complied with," according to Thomas J. Keefe, general manager of the assoclation. “An enormous expense would be in- ! volved in administering and enforcing | Federal regulations and would necessi- |tate a small army of Federal employes lv.hu would necessarily have to police | !k roads to enforce the regulation.” The plan proposes to regulate the common carrier truck and provides that a company so operating trucks inter- state must file schedules as to rates, rry lability insurance, make nd annual reports of its ac- s and must be issued a certificate onvenience and necessity before it given a permit to operate Figurcs of the District Government show that there are 16000 trucks in cperation in the District of Columbia at the present time. Based on a na- tional sur the examiners for the Interstate Commerce Commission found that 6 per cent of the total truck ton- nage is handled by common carrier trucks in both intcrstate and intra- state commerce. Approximately 19 per cent s handled by contract carrier trucks and the remaining 75 per cent is bandled by private truc Under the proposed law this 19 per cent, handled by contract carrier truck: cent handled by private will not be affected, leaving only the 6 | per cent. which is handled by common arrier trucks, regulated under the pro- posed law, he association’s opposition to the establishment of an expensive, cumber- some and topheavy organization, to v “ice the highways to enforce the law against this 6 per cent. is based prim- arily on the belief that it entails an economic loss to the taxpayers” Mr. iCecfe declared. He further points out | that the legislation. as proposed. may be easily evaded by a common carrier motor truck company through the sim- ple procedure of obtaining a contract | on each shipment from the consignor | or the consignee, which takes nim im- | mediately out of the common carrier | class and classifies him as a contract carrier truck operator. By doing this he would not be both- | cred with the details of keeping an claborate set of books and making monthly reports to the commission of | Ty ton of treight moved. From the | viewpoint of the local merchant. how- | ever. the chief objectionable feature is ! that if the law s enforced it will mean that the trucks of local merchants, as they move to and from the District Il be subject to stoppage end Inspec ion, “This immediately opens the door to bandits and thieves who are operating under the guise of Federal officers and who could stop trucks and pilfer the contents much more easily than it can be done at the present time,” Mr Keefe points out. The assoclation’s opposition 15 pranlimll'y the same as that voiced in its brief filed with the commission by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, whose excep- tions are summ>d up in the following language: (1) The examiner's recommendation | of regulation of common carrier inter- state truck operations is unjustified since such operations constitute hardly more than 1 per cent of the entire mo- tor truck business in the country and are relatively Insignificais. (2) The proposed legisiation is »n- practicable and un d because 1° common carrier motr ruck is sublect and contract carrier trucks, uninot consti- tutionally be regulated for the purpose of limiting such competition. fixing rates and imposing other restrictions such as those recommended to apply to common carriers (3) The recommended legislation is not justified. because the States now have full power. in the absence of Fed- eral legislation, to deal with the most important matters of public concern namely, preservation of roads, safety of operation, taxation, license fees. includ- ing compensation for use of roads. and restrictions as to liability. (4) The proposed regulation is un- Justified since the motor trucking busi- ness is in the development state as is likewise regulation by fhe States. hardly more than half of which have under- taken to pass laws of the kind recom- mended in the proposed bill. (5) The report should have found that the proposed lezislation is not jus- tified by competition of the common carrier motor truck with the raiiroads Auto Tax Shows Drop. Purchasers of new automobiles paid a total of $4.442.12299 to the Pederal Government in excise taxes during De- cember. compared with $5.117.02138 paid on new cars purchased during De- cember. 1926 AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS E. L. Ford has been appointed assist- ant manager of the local Olds Motor branch. J M. Shollick. former office manager. has been promoted and trans- ferred to the New York office. Fred M. Prendergast, former manager ot the Pierce-Arrow agency. is now with the Packard-Washington company. Frank Justice. former member of the firm of Wardman-Justice Motors. Inc., is back in the automobile business. “andling used cal Ave. [ THE "'68" AN AT all of the 1928 shows two new cars stand out. You hear thia everywhere — "Go in and see the new Marmans—they'rve great!" And what a lot there is to be seen Take the New Marmon 78, for instance It's @ car built for the day and the times - large enough to give a lasting impression of luxury and ease—yet mobile in size, with a wheelbase of 120 inches. The motor is & straight-eight, of 86 horsepower (built by Marmon), with a top speed of 70 to 80 milea per hour. The riding is even more pro nounced, perhaps than in any previous MARMON MOTORS, Inc. STRAIGHT-EIGHTS Marmon-—and Marmons have always been noted for this quality. The price is medium for dollars—but remarkable for value —after you see the car. And now in the 68", Marmon ha built a straight-eight of genuine Mar mon quality in a price field previously oceupied only by sixes and fours. You simply can’t match its looks or its per formance this side of our own “78' price. The Marmon-built straight eight motor of the “68" delivers 72 horsepower with a top speed of 65 to 70 miles per hour. AL G, MOSES, Pres, Body styles—The Five.Passenger Sedan, the Victoria-Coupe tor four passengers, the Two-Passenger Coupe with rumble seat and Two-Passenger Roadster with rumble seat. The “78" is available in six stand- ard body styles tollows: the tive- passenger Sedan, the Victoria-Coupe for tour passengers, the I'wo-Passenger Coupe with rumble seat, the Collapsi- ble Coupe-Roadster with rumble seae, the Two.Passenger Roadster with rumble seat, andthe FourPaseoger Speedster, reice Ntation North 44§87 1227 R Street N.W.